Slow/no wake ordinance in effect on Rock River
JANESVILLE — The Rock County Sheriff's Office issued a slow/no wake order Tuesday for the Rock River throughout Rock County.
A county ordinance adopted in January set a countywide standard for slow/no wake operations on the river. Before the ordinance, towns enforced the previous slow/no wake conditions.
The new county ordinance calls for slow/no wake conditions when the water level exceeds 7.5 feet on Lake Koshkonong and 6.5 feet in Afton.
"Deputies will place slow/no wake signs along the river at all public access points between the northern Rock County line and the southern Rock County line," Spoden said.
Rock-Koshkonong Lake District officials opposed the ordinance. They argued that the standard is too restrictive. The district preferred a slow-no wake standard tied to the flood stage, which is 9 feet near Newville. The lower levels in the ordinance could curtail boating in late spring and early summer, they said.
Exempted in the form of an amendment to the ordinance are special events on the river, including the Rock Aqua Jays water ski shows in Janesville's Traxler Park.
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May 17, 2012 at 1:53 p.m.
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Sheriff dept is a little slow, water levels have above their limit since at least the 10th and have been decreasing since the 12th yet on the 15th they decided to put up SNW....
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?05...
May 17, 2012 at 10:54 a.m.
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Sunshine 37 Lake Koshkonong is still open only the river portion is no wake. Public launch in Charly Bluff near the Buckhorn. Piers are in and ample parking.
May 17, 2012 at 10:53 a.m.
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I find it interesting that the Rock Aqua Jays are exempt from this ordinance and yet their boats throw some of the biggest wake due to having to pull numerous skiers or for wake jumping/tricks. In my opinion...EVERYONE should have to follow the same rules.
May 17, 2012 at 10:33 a.m.
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So now that they have a set a no wake for rock River, where can we take to boat out ? The kids were looking forward all week to tubing this weekend? Any Ideas ?
May 16, 2012 at 10:28 p.m.
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Of course its poor dam management, they dont manage it and its probably just let go, they will let it go until its a safety hazard so instead of maintaining it over the years for a fraction of the cost a new one will be, they can get millions and more of their friends will get work building a new dam.
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Also how is a no wake going to preserve the "natural" shore lines when we dictate where they are by controlling the water level? How is that natural??
May 16, 2012 at 9:23 p.m.
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The Sheriff's office has made this announcement 9 days late. The trigger condition was met on the 6th of this month. The Sheriff's office completely missed a no-wake period mandated by the new ordinance from March 11th to April 6th. I feel the new ordinance has completely missed the correct target, and this fact will become obvious rapidly if the ordinance is enforced precisely. The County Board, the Sheriff's Office, and this newspaper have all dropped the ball.
May 16, 2012 at 9:09 p.m.
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Water frontage is always a catch22. Land yours. water theirs. everyone stay calm and work together to maintain an even keel. Governing decision will never make everyone happy. But hopefully everyone can have a say in the decisions governing.
May 16, 2012 at 8:34 p.m.
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Nobody forced you to buy property on a public water way. You had to know that the water levels would both rise and fall before you purchased. That's just the nature of things. You can't expect the other property owners and the public to stop using the river just because of your choice in location. By the way, I'm jealous of your 265 ft. of frontage. Must be very nice.
May 16, 2012 at 7:55 p.m.
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As a river property owner with 265 ft. frontage and over 40 grand in rip rap> I am tired of the bs from rrlk association paid for by bussiness owners. When my shoreline is awash I don;t care keep SNW until the ater drops
May 16, 2012 at 7:10 p.m.
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This limit is way too low!!! 6.5 feet is 1.5 feet below the action stage and 2.5 feet below flood stage!!! Nobody would consider the river high right now!!! Why are they using Afton to determine river conditions in Janesville and Beloit. Afton is for the most part very shallow, narrow, and unnavigable. Janesville and Beloit are very different and Janesville is separated from Afton by two dams! Currently, according to USGS/NOAA site that reports the river levels, Afton is at 6.62 feet and dropping!!! Why close it when it's only .12 feet (1.44 inches) over the ridiculously low limit!!! We have had a very dry spring and they are closing the river. When will it ever be open?
May 16, 2012 at 4:54 p.m.
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Wow - yet another Gazette article lacking pertinent facts, eh? WHAT EXACTLY IS THE RIVER LEVEL AT THE LOCATIONS INDICATED?
Last time I looked the river seemed pretty low. What's causing the rise and the county-wide SNW - one rain storm? Poor dam management (or is it it "dam - poor management")?
Maybe the county "bored" needs to pass the SNW along to the same committee that the city council "members" dumped on - er, "delegated to" - to assume responsibility for Janesville's illustrious sidewalk "plan" (and don't forget the children's museum, overpass-to-nowhere, and two-sheeter ice rink, while you're at it)!
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